Taipei: Canada's policy towards Taiwan remains consistent with its long-standing framework, according to Marie-Louise Hannan, Canada's representative to Taiwan. This statement comes amidst concerns in Taipei regarding Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's efforts to fortify relations with China.According to Focus Taiwan, Hannan, who began her tenure as the de facto ambassador to Taiwan last September, highlighted Carney's remarks on the importance of middle powers collaborating to forge a significant "third path" in global relations. She stressed that Canada's economic and overall security priorities are closely tied to Taiwan.Canada has historically maintained good relations with Taiwan, viewing it as a valuable market for Canadian goods and services. In addition to trade and investment, Canada and Taiwan have fostered strong people-to-people exchanges, which Hannan describes as the cornerstone of their relationship. This connection traces back to Canadian missionaries like George Leslie Mackay, who esta blished educational and medical institutions in Taiwan 150 years ago.The 40th anniversary of the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei (CTOT) marks a milestone in these relations, serving as Canada's de facto embassy in the absence of official diplomatic ties. Since its establishment in 1986 with just three employees, the office has expanded to a staff of 53, reflecting an increasingly robust bilateral relationship.However, challenges have surfaced since Carney took office as Canada's prime minister in March 2025. Notably, two Liberal Party MPs were reportedly advised to cut short their January visit to Taiwan, coinciding with Carney's visit to Beijing. This marked the first visit by a Canadian leader to China since 2017, likely aiming to avoid complicating Canada's efforts to mend ties with China.Further, Taiwan's representative to Canada, Harry Tseng, accused the Carney administration of stalling a Trade Cooperation Framework Arrangement (TCFA) with Taiwan in favor of improving relations with Beijing. Hanna n clarified that while the January visit decision was left to the MPs, Canada consistently maintains a positive engagement with Taiwan.On the TCFA delay, Hannan stated that substantive negotiations are complete, and the process is now in the post-negotiation phase. She cited Canada's eight-year negotiation period with South Korea as an example, emphasizing that such timelines are not unusual. Despite Canada's engagement with Beijing, Hannan affirmed that Ottawa assesses its relationship with Taipei on its own merits.Hannan's familiarity with Taiwan predates her current role. Her initial visit to Taiwan was in 1989 for Mandarin studies, followed by further studies in the early 1990s. She has also served in various diplomatic roles, including deputy chief of CTOT's business section and Canada's first ambassador to ASEAN. Before her current position, she was director general for South Asia at Global Affairs Canada.